Abstract

Two high-resolution pollen and charcoal analyses were constructed from sediments obtained from a small bay in eastern Finland in order to gain information on human activity during the Neolithic Stone Age, 5200–1800 BC. We used measurements of loss on ignition (LOI), magnetic susceptibility and geochemical analyses to describe the sedimentological characteristics. Palaeomagnetic dating and measurements of ¹³⁷Cs-activity were supported by ¹⁴C-datings. The analyses revealed human activity between 4400 and 3200 BC, which is synchronous with archaeological cultures defined through different stages of Comb Ware pottery types and Middle Neolithic pottery types with asbestos as a primary temper. Direct evidence of Hordeum cultivation was dated to 4040–3930 cal BC. According to the pollen data, more significant effort was put into the production of fibres from hemp and lime than the actual cultivation of food.

The study was financed by the Academy of Finland through the Academy Research Fellow project “Land use, cultivation and animal husbandry during the Neolithic in North-Eastern Europe between c. 6000 and 1000 bc” granted to Teija Alenius (project 274851). Teemu Mökkönen was financed by the Academy of Finland for the project “The use of materials and the Neolithisation of north-east Europe (ca. 6000–1000 bc)”, University of Oulu (2013–2017).